FAREWELL ELAINE
 Elaine Kempt, UFP’s long time bookkeeper, administrative assistant, and friend is leaving us this month. Elaine was hired in 2015 as our office administrator with a range of duties spanning administration, bookkeeping, and communication. Throughout, she has been the warm, cheerful, and empathetic person on the phone or in the office, taking care of all sorts of UFP business. All the while, she balanced this with working for another religious community, and running her own business.
Elaine is a woman of many talents. She was often the first point of contact on the phone or in the office for lay leaders, newcomers and the congregation. She has been our go-to person with the answers to questions about reserving meeting spaces, the Flame, donations, reimbursements, financial reports and more.
With the arrival of the pandemic, Elaine moved flexibly and efficiently into working from home. A short time ago, and as we move into sharing an administrator with BIC, an opportunity came up for Elaine that she couldn't resist.
And so we say goodbye, with many, many, many thanks for all that she has done for us. We were blessed to have you with us, Elaine!
WHEN WILL WE RE-OPEN?
The UFP Board held a special meeting this past week, and will soon share their decisions and thoughts. One decision is that our Sunday services will continue to be zoom only for the time being (with the exception of this week's outdoor service.)
|
|
This Sunday:
Sept 12th at 11:00am (NOTE TIME!)
THE POSSIBILITIES OF SWEETNESS
OUTDOOR SERVICE and BROWN BAG LUNCH 
If you’re attending in person, be sure register HERE. And, check out further instructions HERE.
Join the virtual service here: https://tinyurl.com/UFPsundayservice
Plan to have something sweet nearby for the apple/honey communion.
It’s been a long time since we’ve been together in person, and we’re trying it out this week with careful protocols for those who are comfortable gathering and an online option for those unable to do so. Bring a bag lunch for after the service.
On this first Sunday of a new church year, let’s experience together the sweetness that life has to offer, even when it can be hard to find,. We taste it, feel it, observe it, smell it…drink it in with all of our senses.
Speaker: Rev. Julie Stoneberg
Service Co-Leader: Steph Wildheart
Service Tech Support: Sue Sauve and Tracy Galvin
Music: Jessica Lindeman and Jacob Rodenburg
Join the service here: https://tinyurl.com/UFPsundayservice
Find the dial in instructions HERE.
Invite your friends!
Religious Exploration: Come play outside this Sunday, and stay tuned. We're in the process of interviewing for a new DRE. See This Month in RE for more.
|
|
|
Video of Sunday's sermon hosted by the Kingston Unitarian Fellowship. Our recent services are here.
|
|
A COMMUNITY FOR
EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
Zoom links for our Sunday service and all programs can be found HERE.
Keep connections alive by joining our private Facebook group (Rev. Julie will invite you to join). Share joys, sorrows, questions, pictures, and invitations to watch parties, or book discussions, or other activities.
|
|
Upcoming UFP Events
8TH PRINCIPLE PROCESS - CUC FORUMS
Sunday, September 19, 7 pm (1.5 hrs)
The CUC is holding a series of 4 forums to bring congregations together in respectful exploration. The forums are cumulative; each one will build on the one before. You are encouraged to attend all four, but are welcome to attend as many as you're able.
The first forum, Orienting Ourselves, will focus on a 'responsibility covenant', calling on each of us to manage our own discomfort and helping others to feel safe to share their lived experiences.
The following three forums will be held on October 3, October 17, and November 7 at the same 7pm time.
More information and the link to join are HERE.
SERVING WITH SPIRIT LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP DAY
Saturday, October 2, 11:30am–7:30 pm
(Registration Deadline is Sept. 26th)
All are invited to join fellow Canadian UUs to explore together
• identifying leadership gifts and welcoming ways to express them
• finding creative expression for UU values
• building skills so that our structures reflect our UU principles
More information is available HERE.
Sliding Scale Registration fee of $25-55, and subsidies available by asking Rev. Julie.
SMALL OUTDOOR "MEETUPS"
The Connections Team is hosting some small in-person UFP gatherings. Here are two options to start:
1) An outdoor drumming circle in the courtyard at UFP
2) Coffee and chatting in one of the local parks (bring your own coffee and chair if possible)
Please respond to Kathy McLay at kthmclay@gmail.com. Gatherings are scheduled with those who have expressed interest. Of course, we'll practice covid safety. .
It'll be fun! Waiting to hear from you!
PLANNING A UFP-SANCTIONED ACTIVITY?
Please consult the Safe Gathering Team (formerly the Covid Standards committee) as you start your planning.
The Step 3 protocol is HERE.
The Safe Gathering Team would like to help those planning UFP activities to ensure provincial, local and UFP covid safety standards are part of the planning process. Any activity, event, or member gatherings that are planned to include any UFP members who would like to participate and that would usually be announced Sunday mornings or included in “The Flame” would be considered a UFP sanctioned activity. Read more...
CONNECTING CIRCLES
Connecting Circles meet about twice monthly for an hour of sharing and mutual support. Some groups are continuing to meet over the summer.
If you want to be part of a circle, contact Rev. Julie.
THIS WEEK'S WALK, BY MARGEREE EDWARDS
Margeree is taking a break this summer. Take a look at the long list of ideas for walking (or walking and swimming) HERE.
|
|
UFP News
UPDATED DIRECTORY
The UFP Members Directory has been updated. It is available HERE. The password has not changed. If you are a member or friend listed in the directory, contact the office to get the password.
SEEKING JOB AND LIFE COACH
An outgoing and personable young man with an intellectual disability is looking for an assistant to help him manage his successful interior car cleaning business, as well as assist him in living interdependently in his own apartment. The day and early evening hours vary from 6 – 22 a week, depending on your availability. The position provides the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life and the wage is competitive. For more information please contact Lucinda Hage, 705 931-9798 or headsup@sympatico.ca by Sept 14.
FROM THE AL MUBARAK'S GARDEN
The Syrian family we sponsored a couple of years ago has tried home gardening this year. They have an abundance of hot peppers and would like to sell them. If you are interested in buying any peppers, please contact Khalid, the father of the household, and he will happily deliver them to your door. He can be reached at: khalidalmubark0@gmail.com.
PETERBOROUGH GLEANS
For many years now, UFP has sponsored the Peterborough Gleaning Program. With Nourish and Peterborough Public Health the program organizes trips to farms to pick produce. Groups provide funds for transportation for people needing food. Last year, the estimate of donated food picked was over $27.000. UFP is paying for two buses this year. It is expected that one will be for tomatoes and corn. A later one will be for squash and pumpkins.
The Food Reserve Fund is sustained by congregational donations and by a special collection annually. Thank you.
STAFFING UPDATE
We are currently in the process of interviewing excellent candidates for the DRE position and hope to be able to have someone in place within a few weeks. And, the application deadline for the new joint UFP/BIC Administrator position was Sept 8, so interviewing will begin by mid-month. What an exciting time!
CALCULATE YOUR COVID RISK
The Safe Gathering Committee recommends calculating your covid risk at https://covidvisitrisk.com. It is a tool that can be used to help decide the risk of attending certain events or visiting with others. It was developed by the National Institute on Aging. More info is HERE.
GIFT CARD SALES
We have a variety of grocery, gas and retail cards available for sale!! As always, proceeds from sales directly benefit the Fellowship.
To purchase cards, please contact Francesca Warriner (Cesca) at 705-743-0795 or by email francescawarriner@gmail.com.
Note that the address for e-transfer payments for gift cards has changed to: payforgiftcards@peterboroughunitarian.ca.
We appreciate and thank you for your continued support.
WEEKLY WALKING BUDDIES
If you're looking for a walking buddy, or buddies, add your name, or reach out to someone HERE. Be sure to attend to the latest health guidelines!
SYRIAN TEENS SEEK OUTDOOR WORK
Yousef and Suleman, the teenage sons of the Al Mubarak family who our Refugee Sponsorship Team helped to settle in 2020, are available to help with any yard work and lawn mowing on weekdays at 4 pm and Saturdays and Sundays.
Please contact the family directly at khalidalmubark0@gmail.com
TRY THE DIFFERENT TASTE OF ALIEU!
Alieu (one of our newcomers) would like to cook for you! Yummy vegetarian or meat dishes with peanut or yassa sauce, cooked to your spicy-meter. Check out how to order HERE.
E-TRANSFERS
If you choose to give in this way, use bookkeeper@peterboroughunitarian.ca noting the purpose/intention of your donation. And you can still use CanadaHelps to make any donations, or send us a cheque at the address below. Thank you.
FLAME DEADLINE
Submissions for the Flame are due each Friday at noon. They go to Ben at uu.ptbo@gmail.com.
JOYS OR SORROWS TO SHARE?
We grow together by sharing about our lives. If you have personal news to share with our broader community, email Rev. Julie to have it added to UFPeople, a page on our website that cannot be found except through a link in The Flame.
|
|
Working for Justice
INTRODUCTION TO THE ALGONQUIN ANISHINAABEG
Introduction to the Algonquin Anishinaabeg – A Reading Course
Ottawa is built on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabeg territory. In the spirit of reconciliation and the need to respect the nation-to-nation relationship, join Lynn Gehl for a 10-week reading course or Algonquin history, politics and culture. Course begins Oct 4th. Contact: www.lynngehl.com.
|
|
Our Wider Community
More information about all of these is available on our website.
Changing the Conversation Around Poverty
The Case for Basic Income
Monthly Peace Vigil
Community Art-Making hosted by Creating Space
Thursdays 3-6pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
