SSUC E-Messenger

The Weekly Messenger of Southminster-Steinhauer United Church:
News and Upcoming Events in the Life of the Community
Friday, May 31, 2019

Dance
June 1st, 7:00 pm
Ann and Jo are hosting a dance on June 1. Doors open at 7:00 with dancing at 7:15 PM. Everyone is welcome ... all ages, all stages. There'll be something for everyone. We will have the regular mix of music: ballroom, disco/club music, rock n'roll, and some country. As an added attraction, this will also be our opportunity to celebrate Janet Dougan's 60th birthday. Please bring a snack to share and a reusable mug for punch.

Men's Breakfast
Sunday, June 2, 7:30 am
Topic: Materials for the Future

Come and hear a presentation by Glenn Hibbard discussing the theme 'What do materials tell us about the world around us?'
Breakfast, for a small fee of $4 or less, begins at 7:30 and the presentation will begin about 8. There will be time for Glenn to respond to questions you may have. Please sign the ‘Intention to Attend’ sheet located in the foyer to help Cliff, David and Bill determine the quantity of food to have on hand.

Southminster-Steinhauer Bridge Wrap-Up
Sunday, June 2, 7:00 pm
The 2018/19 Bridge season Wrap-Up is scheduled for Sunday, June 2, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. in the Small Hall. As has been our practice we will have coffee and dessert followed by some cards. Cost will be in $4 - $5 per person. Please reply and let me know if you would like to attend so we can plan for the event. A reply to my e-mail (coengm@telusplanet.net), or a phone call (780-435-6388) will be helpful. If you know someone that might be interested in joining us next year invite them to contact me to reserve a spot on June 2 and get familiar with us. We hope to see you on June 2nd.
-Gerry Coen

Keheewin Housing Town Hall Meeting
Tuesday, June 4, 6:00 pm, SSUC
Capital Region Housing is hosting a community town hall meeting to discuss the Keheewin Building Housing Choices Development Project (on the other side of the field that's behind SSUC). Project team members from CRH, Stantec and the City of Edmonton will be participating to answer questions and document feedback. Doors open at 6; presentation and question and answer session will start at 6:15 pm.

Drop-in Hatha Yoga
Wednesdays, 7:00 pm
Our Wednesday night Hatha Yoga classes at Southminster Steinhauer United Church will continue until June 12. That will be our wind up evening with snacks and social time after class. Yoga classes resume in early September. You are always welcome to encourage a pal or family member to attend.

Drop Your Gonch for Bissell
You can make a difference for people who are homeless in Edmonton! The Bissell Centre is requesting NEW underwear, briefs, boxers and bras, for both men and women. For five Sundays in June, SSUC will be collecting these items in a container in the foyer and then delivering our donations in July. Find a good price and share the information. This week, Mark's Work Warehouse has men's underwear on at 50% off. Army & Navy always has good prices. We can help in small ways to make a big difference! For further info contact Linda May at 780-439-3715.

Pole Walking – Come Join Us to Experience Spring at its Best
Wednesdays at 10:15, usually starting from the church.
Wednesday, June 5 from Linda's place, Twin Brooks Horizon Village, 303 Twin Brooks Drive at 10:15 to walk along the ravine trail.
Wednesday, June 12 – a special start at 9:30 at the church to go to St Albert Botanical Gardens and then lunch at the Cajun House.
Wednesday, June 19 - a new destination but will gather at the church.
Come join us whether you walk with or without poles. More information call Linda at 780-439-3715. We walk in the mist but not in the rain.

Help Needed for Margaret-Ann Armour's Memorial Service
Wednesday, June 12, 7:00 pm
We are looking for a team of 10-12 people who would arrive early and work with the volunteer team from the Dr. Margaret-Ann Armour school to help at the memorial service with such things as being stationed with the envelope baskets (instead of a guest register), serving coffee and tea (students will serve cake and shortbread), helping with ushering, etc. Sign up sheet available in the foyer.

National Indigenous Peoples' Day
Sunday, June 23
Mark this date, June 23, on your calendars. After the gathering we will be screening a new made-in-Alberta documentary titled 'Treaty Talk - Sharing the River of Life,' and we will be sharing a light lunch of stew and bannock. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the producer, Dr. Patricia Makokis. This documentary, among other things, 'explores and models how indigenous nations and non-indigenous allies in Canada can come together to transform racism and discrimination at a local level and build a future of mutual benefit.'

There will be a fun and activity-filled wind-up kidSPIRIT/Youth Cafe class on Sunday, June 2nd with a chance to celebrate the year we've had together.

Check out our revamped podcast, hosted by our communications coordinator, Brett McKay. Listen online, download it to listen on the go, and share with your friends!
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/finding-beauty-in-courage/id1167866442?i=1000438140881

Last Sunday eight of us gathered at Trisha's to enjoy the livestream from SSUC Edmonton focussing on the fourth Earth Charter Principle (Democracy, Non-violence and a Culture of Peace) and listening to the talented Edmonton Youth Choir. Our sense of community with our Edmonton spiritual family strengthens with each passing month.

Baby Shower for two Chop 'n Chat staff, Janessa and Jaleesa—complete with games, good food and lovely presents—was a wonderful first experience for both mothers... and for the fun-loving guests! Many thanks to Chantalle and Jane for organizing it. SSUC-SK is helping with Chop 'n Chat the month of June and will continue its commitment this coming fall.

Upcoming events in June, which fit our Values:
Rock Your Roots: Walk for Reconciliation on Friday June 21, 2019 (http://www.otc.ca/attend_an_event/event_detail/rock_your_roots4.html ). By walking together, we re-ignite the fire of reconciliation—honouring survivors and answering the TRC’s Calls to Action as we grow a more inclusive community. Let’s Re-Ignite the Fire together! Starting at 9:30 a.m. at Victoria Park, the Rock Your Roots walk will feature a variety of traditional and multicultural dances, music and performances along the way. The walk culminates at 11:30 a.m. joining National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations hosted by the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre including lunch, special guest speakers, entertainment and fun for all the family! Trisha would like to walk with the SSUC Saskatoon banner. Please contact her if you can join and help.

Pride Festival – June 14 - 22, 2019 Pride Parade June 22: https://www.saskatoonpride.ca/ SAM has paid for a table at the Pride Market June 21 (5-10pm) and June 22 (12-7pm) and is offering the Rainbow Bakery along with information about SAM. If you want to offer some baking, want to represent SSUC SK at the table or wish to walk in the Pride Parade with SAM, please contact Trisha, trisha.a.little@gmail.com.

Informal meetings may occur through the summer. Stay tuned to the newsletter for dates.
September 8 Home Gathering: Nephesh Spirit will lead this first Gathering at a location to be determined.
September 15 Livestream Spiritual Gathering: 10am-1pm, St. Andrew's Lounge. Come a little early (9:45) if possible to be part of a short video to wave hello to our Edmonton family!! The Spiritual Gathering live stream will be followed by informal conversation and then a potluck lunch.
September 29 Home Gathering: Joyce will lead the discussion at a location to be determined. (Offers to host at their home are welcome.)
October 4-6 Ever Wonder Conference: Registration will be available in June and carpooling will be arranged closer to the conference date.

SSUC Saskatoon has an active prayer chain of about 5 members who hold people and intentions in their hearts on a daily basis. All concerns can be sent to trisha.a.little@gmail.com.

Further details on events can be accessed through our SSUC Saskatoon Facebook page or our Calendar. SSUC Saskatoon photos (both recent and archival), click here.

Links to organizations/newsletters that are close to our members' hearts:
Saskatoon Unitarians newsletter: May 29, 2019
Station 20 West newsletter: May 24, 2019
United Action for Justice: May 27, 2019
Living Skies Regional Rambler: May 22, 2019 / Living Skies Region Facebook Group
Northern Spirit Region newsletter: April 11, 2019
Affirm United Annual Conference: May 26, 2019
Broadview: May 24, 2019

Featured Book: Finding Peace

A “culture of peace” was, in part, the focus of SSUC’s last-of-May Sunday service. It was earlier that month that Canada’s Jean Vanier died; a remembrance in The Globe avowed that his “capacity for human empathy was inexhaustible." So choosing the luminary’s Finding Peace to be the Library’s Featured Book is altogether rightful.

In his 2003 book, the humanitarian—his signature accomplishment was the creation of L’Arche—“dares to suggest the radical possibility of peace in our time,” the Quill and Quire review affirms. “It is easy to reflexively dismiss such an idea, but Vanier is a realist, and Finding Peace explores the process of creating peace in a plainspoken, tough-minded manner that manages to suppress cynicism.”

“Peace is the fruit of love,” Vanier writes. “But to grow in love requires...hard work. And it can bring pain because it implies...loss of the certitudes, comforts, and hurts, that shelter and define us. …the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will be in our troubled world.” So it is that the Q&Q critique ends with this sentence: “His are words of experience that, if heeded, could bring profound change on a scale both personal and global.”

Finding Peace
By Jean Vanier
House of Anansi Press, 2003

Find more featured books on our website, and read the new installment of Library Learnings on our Library page here,

Outreach Needs
- tv stand or small bedside table

Call Carol at 780-434-1294 if you can help with needed items.

See all board and committee information, including minutes and other documents as soon as they are available by visiting our Administrative Resources page. The next Board Meeting is Tuesday, June 18th at 7:00 pm. Anyone is welcome to attend meetings of the Board and/or the Board Executive Meetings.

SSUC operates solely on the generosity and support of our donors. Donate online here, or by visiting us in person on Sunday mornings. You can also sign up to donate by automatic withdrawal by talking with a volunteer at the welcome table on Sunday mornings.

Support SSUC with Grocery Cards

Do you buy groceries? Support SSUC at the same time. Simply purchase pre-paid grocery cards in amounts of $25, $50 and $100 for Sobey's, Safeway, Save-On-Foods and Superstore. You pay no more or less than you would by paying by other methods and SSUC receives a percentage from each card purchased. Plus, you can still collect retail points or air miles. It's a win-win. Purchase your cards on Sunday mornings in the foyer or contact us.

SSUC is an inclusive and affirming community

that explores an expansive spirituality.

We meet every Sunday at 10:00 am
where we celebrate our highest and best human values.
We create a safe place for all in a barrier free and scent free environment.

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