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This Sunday at 1:30 pm via Zoom

In these times we live in, it’s easy to feel like we are carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. Take a few minutes to close your eyes and listen to Aly Halpert in this musical meditation on grief and self-care: Loosen, Loosen.

Click Here to Listen Now

You can check out what else awaits you in our Soul Matters packet on what it means to be a PEOPLE OF COMPASSION by clicking the download button below.

Remember, that at its simplest, you’re invited to choose one spiritual practice and one question to wrestle with to explore before your small groups meet on June 19th.

Download the Full Soul Matters Packet

Books Available for Purchase or Loan

Did you know that we have copies of each of these booklets available for purchase or to borrow from South Fraser Unitarians? The UU Pocket Guide is one of the most complete introductions to Unitarian Universalism available, covering ministry, worship, religious education, social justice, and history. Serving with Grace provides an opportunity to discover how to experience congregational work as an integrated element in a fully rounded spiritual life.

You can borrow or purchase your copy by contacting Rev. Samaya. The cost of the Pocket Guide is $14.50, and Serving with Grace is $18.50.

A Perfect Day for a Walk

Our May in-person gathering was wild! Wild geese & goslings, wild ducks and ducklings, a couple of heron and some sun-bathing turtles. Penny-the-dog was a polite visitor. She tip-toed around the lagoon and didn’t chase a single goose.

The people were well-behaved, too. Many remarked on how nice it was to see each other in person.

We welcome Rev. Samaya Oakley back from a 5-month sabbatical!

Rev. Samaya’s Availability for Appointments

Rev. Samaya is typically available for meetings and phone calls on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. You can feel free to call her during those days and hours, or you can book an appointment with her. Wednesday is her worship planning/writing day. Her weekend runs from Friday through Saturday. As she is our three-quarter time minister, she takes one week off a month.

Whether you are looking to book a one-on-one appointment or to book a meeting with Rev. Samaya, please do so by using her online calendar booking system. Simply click this link - calendly.com/revsamaya – and choose whether you’d like a 30-minute, 60-minute, 90-minute, or 2-hour meeting with her.

What to Expect from Your Minister - As part of the ongoing information about what you can expect from our minister, please know that when you visit our minister for pastoral conversations, you can expect that your conversation will be held in confidence. What you share will not be shared with any other person without your express permission. Our minister will encourage direct communication to resolve issues you have with other people.

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month!

While most of us are now familiar with the famous LGBT rainbow flag representing queer pride, many of us are not aware that it is different from the original rainbow Gay Pride Flag designed by Gilbert Baker. Nor that there are now more inclusive versions that specifically recognize the trans, intersex, and POCs in our diverse community.

And when we are talking about the different LGBTQ Flags and their meanings, there is far more than just this one flag.

In fact, there are now over 50 flags recognized among the LGBTQ+ community, each used to symbolize different gender identities and sexual orientations within. While most queer individuals would also identify with the all-encompassing rainbow flag, many want to have their own individual flag.

Imagine the rainbow flag is the US flag, and many of these other flags are like individual states underneath. In a community as large and beautifully diverse as ours, it is natural that smaller tribes will want to carve out some recognition for themselves; thus, the different LGBTQ Flags we have today.

As Gilbert Baker, the original creator of the first rainbow Gay Pride Flag, said, “Flags say something. You put a rainbow flag on your windshield, and you’re saying something.”

So, what do these different LGBTQ Flags say? Well, we have rounded them up and tried our best to explain the meaning behind them all. There is some contention of meaning, or it has been lost to time – but our explanations should still help give some context.

~queerintheworld.com

LGBTQ Flags and Their Meanings

June is National Indigenous History Month!

June is a time for all Canadians to reflect on the unique histories, sacrifices, cultures, contributions, and strengths of our First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples.

Watch the Chalice Lighter for Indigenous History Features throughout the month.

There are so many rich resources online to learn about Indigenous history. Here’s a good place to start (click the button below):

National Indigenous History Month Canada

This Week in UU History