The Quest
March 2016
Monthly Theme: Renewal
Change and renewal are themes in life, aren't they? We keep growing throughout life.
~Susan Minot
Volunteer of the Month - Dick Wilson!
Inside this issue:
March Services
2
Hello from Rev Carly!
3
Shavings from the
Board
6
Upbeat News!
11
CYRE News
12
Cooking and Caring
Updates
13
Kudos!
13
March Calendar
15
Unitarian Church of Calgary
1703 1st Street, NW T2M 4P4
www.unitarianscalgary.org
Phone: 403-276-2436
Your Board of Trustees recognizes Dick
Wilson as this month’s Volunteer of the
Month.
Dick’s focus on workplace safety helps
protect all Physical Plant volunteers from
injury.
Dick has been a dedicated member of the
Physical Plant Committee for many years. He
gives generously of his time and expertise to
support repairs, maintenance, and upgrades
of our church building, organizing work bees
as necessary.
Dick has helped with Hospitality and is
always willing to assist with setup and
cleanup.
Dick is a real people person, quick to
introduce himself to church visitors and
newcomers.
He played a key role in the redesign of
What do others at our church have to say
Panabaker Hall and the new windows, shades
about Dick? Here is a sampling:
and lighting in Wickenden Hall.
“He’s a stalwart, go-to guy, the heart and soul
He expedited the Green Sanctuary solar
of physical plant, patience of steel,
lighting program and is the first to sweep the
compassionate, encourages others to do their
panels when they become covered with snow
best. Working with Dick is an honour,
and inoperable.
pleasurable and FUN!”
In addition to working on projects himself,
Congratulations, Dick, and thank you for all
Dick provides sage advice to others on how
that you do!
to get things done in the building.
While Dick and his fellow Physical Plant
Committee members handle many
maintenance issues, when a task is beyond
their capabilities, Dick has no hesitation to
call for contractors’ bids for windows, roof,
cladding or foundation repairs. This can
include relentless follow up with contractors
who promise quotes and don’t deliver, and
when the tradesmen are hired Dick makes
sure they do the work they were hired to do.
Dick’s eye for preventative maintenance
means many things in the building are
attended to before they are in need of
repair. Further, his attention to detail means
that the kitchen drawers slide smoothly and
cupboard doors don’t bang.
The Quest
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www.unitarianscalgary.org
March Services
Come, Come, Whoever You Are, Whenever You Can
We often sing: “Come, come whoever you are: wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving. Ours is no caravan of despair; come,
yet again, come.“
This month, you will notice that we are forgoing Sunday Service blurbs in the newsletter. This is an experiment in trying
something new, and also in trust: trust that Sundays will still happen, and that there will be something meaningful for
everyone. It may the music that touches you, or a single line from a reading or the sermon, or even a coffee hour
conversation. And it may be that your presence will be someone else’s source of joy and/or comfort that day.
I know that service blurbs are a long-held tradition in many congregations, including this one, and much appreciated by
many. They are equally often a challenge for Sunday Service committees and service leaders – sometimes the spirit just
hasn’t moved by the newsletter deadline! In this case, we thought we would try it to see how it feels. So for March, I invite
you to embrace the spirit of experimentation and trust, and to come to church whoever you are, and whenever you can.
Danielle or I will be service leading the first three Sundays, and our multigenerational choir and UUPhonia will be
singing. The final Sunday, Easter, we will have another “Spirit Jam.” If blurbs are particularly important to you, know that
you can look on the website and in the eNews each week for the upcoming Sunday’s info.
~Warmly, Carly
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Presenter: Rev Carly Gaylor
Music: Jane, Multigen Choir
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Presenter: Intern Minister Danielle Webber
Music: Jane Perry, Music Director and UUPhonia
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Presenter: Rev Carly Gaylor
Music: Jane Perry, UUphonia
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Presenter: Rev Carly Gaylor
Music: Jane Perry, Music Director
Notes: Easter Sunday
4Others 4March - Girl Power Program
The Women’s Centre aims to support girls (ages 10-13) to build their confidence and belief in themselves by building
community and practicing leadership and activism skills. All programs are free of charge and provide food, supplies and bus
tickets if needed. We run Girl Power Camps every spring and summer for one week at a time. Girl Power After School is a
drop-in program and runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30-5:30pm from October to June.
Page 3
We come together in beloved community, guided by our Unitarian Universalist principles and sources
to grow in wisdom, welcome and deepen relationships, and act for a just and sustainable world.
Reflections from
Carly
March 2016
Renewing Our Relationship with Time &
Energy
Experiences of burnout, exhaustion, and busyness abound in
our society, and church is no exception. Rather than an oasis
from the franticness of the rest of life, church can often
Dear Friends,
become another source of busyness. As part of our renewal
in March, I invite you to explore the state of your time and
Our March theme is renewal, and we will be exploring and
renewing our relationship with money, with time and energy, energy. Are you burned out or feeling energized and healthy?
and with trust. These are everyday areas of life for us all, and What would it take for you to find and maintain balance?
What would it look like to become a community of
yet they can also cause a lot of stress and frustration,
sustainable
and balanced time and energy among and between
especially when our supplies of one or more are low. I hope
us?
that our theme of renewal will help us all to find a little more
calm, a little more space, a little more ease, and a little (or a
lot) more joy in our lives.
Renewing Our Relationship with Money
Renewing Our Relationship with Trust
I think our choices about how we make, spend, save, and
share money are one of our deepest expressions of our
values. “Put your money where your mouth is” as the saying
There are many synonyms for trust: faith, confidence,
goes. At the same time, sometimes our choices are limited by
reliance, responsibility, duty, obligation, protection,
circumstance or because the options we hope for don’t (yet)
commitment, and safekeeping among them. As part of our
renewal this month, we will explore what it is to trust that we exist. Some of us have times in life where money is so
limited it’s hard to put food on the table and meet basic
have and are enough: as individuals, as a congregation, as a
needs. Some of us have experienced a sudden windfall of
planet. To have faith in one another, and in our shared
money at some point in our lives – inheritance or a new,
resources. To trust in our ability to steward our resources.
Are we people of trust or fear? Or both? What is the hardest higher paying job, for example – and need to make decisions
on how to spend it. Maybe your preferred investment is in a
part of trust for you? We’ll explore this together.
Mars colony and the fund hasn’t yet been created (or has it?)!
Regardless of where we fall on the economic spectrum, we all
find ourselves in relationship with money every day of our
lives.
March is the beginning of our 2016-2017 canvass, which will
be one part of our renewal of our relationship with money.
While you reflect on all three areas of renewal in your life, I
invite you to consider the role of money, time/energy, and
trust in your relationship with the Unitarian Church of
Calgary. This year we will be having a special
multigenerational celebration and ritual of our commitment
to the congregation on April 3rd during Sunday Service. I
hope to see you there.
~Continued….
Carly Gaylor is the Unitarian
Church of Calgary Sabbatical
Minister
[email protected]
403-230-8938
289-828-4959
Office
Cell
Office Hours:
Tuesdays 2 – 5 pm
Wednesdays 11 – 4 pm
Other times by appointment
The Quest
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www.unitarianscalgary.org
...from page 3
Renewing Our Relationship with Money
The chart below is provided by the Unitarian Universalist
Association as a guide to think about your financial
commitments. I invite you to consider your past and future
pledges and where you find yourself:
Do you self-identify as a supporter, sustainer, visionary,
or tither (or other) in terms of your relationship to
the congregation?
Does your financial pledge align with your relationship?
Do the suggested percentages make sense to you?
What would inspire you to move between the identified
categories?
What would inspire you to raise -- or lower -- your
pledge?
How do you feel about money and your pledge?
Anxious, generous, confident, unsure, inspired or
uninspired?
What would it be like to talk about your level of
commitment with fellow congregants, exploring your
inspiration, questions, and/or doubts? Would you
consider sharing what you give and why?
If you have kids (of any age!), would you consider sharing
your thoughts about your pledge decision with them?
In these ways and in all the ways that may yet emerge, I look
forward to renewing with you this month.
In faith,
Rev. Carly
Suggested Giving Levels
Supporting
Annual
The congregation is a
significant part of your
life and it promotes
your spiritual growth
Income
%
Under
$25,000
Per
Month
Per Year
Sustaining
Visionary
Tithing
The congregation is central to
You are committed to both the
your identity, and you are
present and future growth of
committed to sustaining the
the congregation
programs and ministries of
the church
%
Per
Month
Per Year
%
Per
Month
Per Year
You designate ten percent of
your income as a way of living
out your spiritual principles
%
Per
Month
Per Year
Contributions of any amount from people with low income will be considered generous.
Note: Calgary’s Low Income Cut-Off is approximately $24,000 for a single person, $30,000 for two people, and increases with each additional
household member.
$25,000
2 $42
%
$504
3%
$63
$756
5%
$104
$1248
10%
$208
$2496
$50,000
3 $125
%
$1500
4%
$167
$2004
5%
$208
$2496
10%
$417
$5004
$75,000
3 $188
%
$2256
4.5%
$281
$3372
6%
$375
$4500
10%
$625
$7500
$100,000
3 $250
%
$3000
4.5%
$375
$4500
6%
$500
$6000
10%
$833
$9996
Page 5
We come together in beloved community, guided by our Unitarian Universalist principles and sources
to grow in wisdom, welcome and deepen relationships, and act for a just and sustainable world.
Introducing a New Community Practice
March 2016
~ Danielle’s Refections
I spent the month of January in Chicago taking classes at my Seminary. Last month I told you about Mark
Morrison-Reed’s class on African Americans in Unitarian Universalism. I also took a class called
Collaborative Intergenerational Ministry taught by Rev. Aaron McEmrys. Aaron believes that the best way
to cross generational gaps within congregations is through story telling – that being able to tell a “Master
Story” will cross generations and help create intergenerational ministry. One of the suggestions that I heard
in this class was to create a ritual of carrying the community flame from Sunday to Sunday.
Shannon and I have decided we are going to launch this program here at UCC. We are calling it “Bearers of the Light” we
will be starting on March 13th. Shannon and I will be gathering some items and a traveling chalice into a box. All the
members of a household from our community will be Chalice Lighters on Sunday morning. When a family comes forward to
light the chalice they will receive the travel box to take home with them, to hold the light of our community at their house for
the week. Along with a chalice there will also be resources for meditative readings, graces, and a journal that individuals can
write about their experiences. We will be looking for families of all kinds, including couples and single person families, to
volunteer to be Bearers of Our Community Light. Watch for opportunities to sign up your household during refreshment
time in Wickenden Hall on Sundays this month.
~Danielle
THR Reflection Workshop
The Unitarian Church of Calgary is committed to Growing in Wisdom, Welcoming and Deepening Relationships, and Acting
for a Just and Sustainable World. Because of this Vision Statement and the current state of Canada, the Adult Religious
Exploration team has decided to offer a Truth and Healing Reflection Workshop. This workshop will guide us through
reflections of the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples by exploring:
1. Engagement and Locating Ourselves
Where we ask: What social identities do each of us have, what culture(s) do we come from? How do we relate interculturally? How do we relate to the land we call home?
2. Understanding
Where we learn about the process of colonization, in particular the Indian Residential School (IRS) System and its
impacts on our history and present-day life.
3. Connection
Where we seek to update our understandings of Aboriginal societies, and learn about current issues. Where we learn
how to be a useful ally, and, when ready, reach out to local Aboriginal leaders.
4. Healing and Reconciliation
Where we ask: What does healing and reconciliation mean to me? What does it mean to us as Unitarian
Universalists? What are the next steps for building connections and making commitments?
This workshop will be running March 5, 12, 19, & 26th from 12:00 – 3:00pm. Because of the significance of these reflections
and conversations we ask that only those available for all four sessions register. Registration can be done on the website. If
you have any questions, please contact Danielle 403-988-8490 [email protected]
Danielle Webber is the
Unitarian Church of Calgary
Intern Minister
Tuesdays 12:00 - 5:00 pm
[email protected]
Wednesdays 12:00 – 5:00 pm
403-988-8490
Thursdays 9:00 – 4:00 pm
Office Hours:
The Quest
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www.unitarianscalgary.org
Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in
thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving
creates love. ~Lao Tzu
We recently received notice that the late Ruth Barker has very kindly remembered the congregation in her will. The sum of
$100,000 will be received by the church when the will has passed probate; the terms of the will state that the funds are to be
added to the church's Endowment Trust Fund.
We are most appreciative of Ruth's kindness. We encourage church members to remember the church when they next review
their wills. The Finance committee are working on developing a policy to follow when future bequests are received.
Shavings from the Board
Of Interns, Crowd Funding, and Northern Lights
During the past three church years our congregation has had the good fortune to host Intern ministers as they completed
their ministerial training. Samaya Oakley, Chris Rothbauer, and Danielle Webber all provided significant benefits to our
congregation by establishing new programs, leading services, participating in pastoral care, and adding their considerable
expertise to committee work and other forms of governance.
The congregation selected "Being a Teaching Congregation" as a priority for 2013-14, feeling that helping in the training of
new ministers was a worthwhile contribution to Unitarianism in Canada.
The congregation took on these Interns understanding that there would be costs, so to defray the costs for 2016-17 the
Board decided to submit an application to Northern Lights, a Canadian Unitarian initiative which usually provides about
$12,000 in funding to the applicant. Since this is funding which comes primarily from outside the congregation, it allows
other Canadian Unitarians to support the training work we do.
On January 15th, at the urging of the Board, Corinna Nielson submitted an application to Northern Lights, which required a
crowd funding initiative, hoping to raise $10,000. To give the crowd funding initiative depth and interest, Intern Minister
Danielle Webber created a stirring video endorsement of the project. Within two weeks, $2250 was raised from 44
contributors. Thank you all!
There were several applications, however, and the initiative called "Educating for Change! Transforming Indigenous & NonIndigenous Relations" was chosen as the focus for Northern Lights.
The Board expresses its deep appreciation of the superb work and inspiring leadership shown by Corinna Nielson.
John "Mich" Michell
President of the Board of Trustees
Page 7
We come together in beloved community, guided by our Unitarian Universalist principles and sources
to grow in wisdom, welcome and deepen relationships, and act for a just and sustainable world.
March 2016
Renewal of Stewardship
Your Stewardship Committee has sprung back into action and our first spring canvass (to align with our fiscal year) will
begin March 13th.
Your stewardship team is feeling a sense of renewal as we prepare for our campaign. We are hoping that you will feel the
same spirit. Our campaign will be unfolding as life springs into renewal in the world around us. Just like the old saying
goes: “Nature holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth and renewal in our lives.” The
same applies to our lives in our church.
I hope you will accompany us as we embark on our voyage of renewal and commitment. We all give to the church in
various ways. As a Unitarian congregation, we are the church. We are the body, heart and soul of it. There are many ways
to be generous, giving our time, talent and money. We all give of ourselves, how else can we grow? As a congregation we
are able to be more than we all can individually. We have a message to deliver to our community about we are for – a just
and sustainable world.
What to expect as this year’s canvass unfolds:
♦
♦
♦
♦
A canvass letter and packet delivered by hand or mail in mid-March
A focus on renewal as we explore renewing our relationship with money, time and energy, and trust within the
congregation and beyond
A new way of representing our proposed budget by areas of church life, called a narrative budget
A celebration of our commitments of time, energy, money and trust on April 3rd during Sunday Service.
Together, we make this community what it is!
The Quest
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www.unitarianscalgary.org
The Gifts and Legacies of Our Interns
I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of what our
Led several services including the Trans Day of Remembrance
interns have done while here. (There was an introduction/
reminder of our interns in the last Quest, which is still available
Taught an Adult Religious Exploration (ARE) class
online.) Samaya Oakley was our first intern, then Chris
Rothbauer, and currently Danielle Webber. I looked back
through the records to remind myself of what the interns have Implemented recording details of Caring visits in PowerChurch
been doing. Here is a truncated list for each, edited for space
reasons.
Hosted a webinar on lay pastoral care www.anymeeting.com/
Samaya:
Co-facilitated Adult Our Whole Lives OWL program
PWRegionUUA/E057DD81894A
Instrumental in pastoral situations
Co-facilitated and piloted Opening Doors program
Co-facilitated “Sexuality as a Constellation” pool at the ACM
Initiated SWEET team system
Danielle:
Co-facilitated: Building Your Own Theology – Volume 1& 2
Co-Facilitated: Opening Doors program
Co-Facilitated: Theme-Based Listening Circles
Organized a UCC youth ‘learning conference’
Program developer and facilitator with Siksika Family Services
Office
Preached seven services on a variety of topics (including Hot
Initiated and facilitated Vesper Services / Soulful Sundown
Services
Button Words)
Helped plan and held the closing service for the Canadian
Co-Created the Caring Cooking Connection & Casserole Ministry
Chaplain for CanUUdle (Canadian National Youth
Conference)
Unitarian Council Annual Conference and Meeting
Worked on revitalizing the Caring committee
Advised and counseled the Elder Services Corps team
(sexuality and aging)
Facilitated the history section of the Introduction to UUism
program
Took the lead in organizing the donations for Adopt-A-Family
programs.
Chris:
Implemented the Compassion Exchange
Took a lead in Theme-Based Listening Circles (TLCs) and
It is certainly impressive when you see the lists laid out like this.
Interns are a real bargain: for a salary of $18,000 for ten
months, we get a full-time, extremely dedicated, hardworking,
passionate new minister. Debra greatly appreciates the support
she receives from an intern. Interns dramatically extend the
impact she can have since it allows her to have input into
various initiatives without having to put in the time
commitment herself. Debra has found that interns are a net
benefit even though she puts her talent and energy into training
them. And we contribute to the growth of the wider Canadian
UU community by bringing along new ministers.
Your ongoing generosity has made it possible to sustain an
intern minister and it is our hope that this can continue. The
next Stewardship Campaign will be starting on March 6. Please
consider the benefit of an intern minister as you consider your
pledge.
facilitated facilitators’ meeting
Susan Drake
Played a leadership role Caring committee
Board Trustee
Page 9
We come together in beloved community, guided by our Unitarian Universalist principles and sources
to grow in wisdom, welcome and deepen relationships, and act for a just and sustainable world.
4 Questions from Social Justice
March 2016
by Penney Kome
Welcome to 4 Questions, a new monthly column brought to you by the Social Justice Committee (SJC). Every month, SJC
will ask a subject expert to answer four questions: What is the most interesting challenge in your field? What is your
approach to resolving this challenge? What can one Unitarian do to make a difference in this area? Why do you keep doing
this work? The (SJC) would like to highlight the social justice work many of our congregation members do. March’s
questions are for Hazel Corcoran.
Hazel Corcoran LLB is Executive Director of the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation (“CWCF”), a national,
bilingual grassroots membership organization of worker-owned co-operatives. UCC members may know that Calgary
Co-op is the largest retail co-op in North America. Globally, the world’s largest 300 co-operatives have a combined
turnover of USD 2.2 trillion, the equivalent of the 7th largest national economy. 250 million people are employed or earn
their living thanks to a co-operative. The worker co-op movement is fast-growing internationally, but tiny in Canada.
Two-thirds of the 350 Canadian worker co-ops are in Quebec. Fortunately, Louisiana-born Hazel speaks French fluently.
1. What is the most interesting challenge in your work?
Our biggest challenge is having a huge mandate but tiny resources, including a staff of 3 FTE employees to cover the
country. The mandate is especially huge at times such as now, when the conventional economy is failing many people.
Everybody loses when businesses fail. Often, workers could keep the business going by buying it together and turning it
into a worker-owned co-op. But they have to know how. That’s where CoopZone comes in, a network of business
development consultants for all kinds of co-operatives including consumer co-ops, health care co-ops, credit unions, and
farmers’ co-ops.
2. What is your approach to resolving this challenge?
Creativity and tenacity. CWCF celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, 25 years of helping working people to have an
ownership stake in the economy and meet their own economic needs. We are much stronger than when I started working
for CWCF in 1993. We also take inspiration from, and share lessons learned with, our colleagues in France, (Mondragon),
Spain, Argentina, Brazil, China, Japan, and India.
3. What can one Unitarian do?
One Unitarian can join a co-operative, help start a co-operative, or become a co-operative developer and assist others to
start and run co-ops. You could also invest in one, such as the proposed Grain Exchange Co-op, http://
thegrainexchange.coop/, which seeks to open within about 6 months. Also, one Unitarian (Dr. Ian MacPherson, UVic,
1939-2013) was chosen in 1995 by the International Co-operative Alliance to coordinate the world-wide process to revise
the co-operatives principles.
4. Why do you keep doing this work?
I agree with my colleague Tim Huet of Oakland, California, who stated, “There Is No More Important Social Change Work
You Can Do Than Cooperative Development.” www.geo.coop/archives/huetman604.htm
For me, working to develop the co-operative movement, especially worker co-ops, is about fundamentally changing the
economy so that people matter more than profit; so that we can create an environment in which people are free to discover
the gifts that they bring to this world and have a way to develop them and contribute them to the common good. Co-ops
are about building an economy based on hope and love. The potential is absolutely huge. This is why one of the most
important spiritual expressions of my life is the promotion of co-operatives.
You can read more about the organizations I work for at: www.canadianworker.coop, and www.coopzone.coop .
Page 10
The Quest
www.unitarianscalgary.org
Refugee Sponsorship Committee Update
Night in Baghdad Update
We are delighted to report that the Refugee Sponsorship Committee has now raised over $61,000 - thank you for your
generous support! The A Night in Baghdad themed fundraiser has been postponed until this fall, in part out of respect for the
many fundraising events scheduled this spring. We have enough funds to support our refugee family in their first months in
Canada, and additional fundraising in the fall will help us ensure they are well supported into next year.
The Night in Baghdad committee is looking for another volunteer to help with the silent auction, as a key volunteer has had
to leave the committee. This will be a fun event - a delicious dinner, entertainment, and a silent auction. If you are interested,
please email [email protected].
1st Friday Movies with Meaning
WALL·E March 4th 6:00
Please join us in Panabaker Hall for an American computer-animated science-fiction, post-apocalyptic, comedy film
produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The story follows a robot named WALL-E, who is designed to
clean up an abandoned, waste-covered Earth far in the future. He falls in love with another robot named EVE, who also has
a programmed task, and follows her into outer space on an adventure that changes the destiny of both his kind and
humanity. Both robots exhibit an appearance of free will and emotions similar to humans, which develop further as the film
progresses. This is a family friendly event. Popcorn, juice and conversation will round out our evening.
Human & Pet Food Bank
Can You Help? Both of our food banks are low on
supplies and we need your donations of non-perishable items. Next time you’re out shopping, either for
your family or your pets, why not pick up something extra for the UCC donation bins? Maybe an extra
bag of rice or pasta, canned veggies or fruit… maybe some cat or dog food ? We hand out nonperishables and $5 Co-Op cards to anyone who comes to our door in need. In these tougher economic
times, sometimes this type of assistance makes all the difference in the world, especially to families
struggling to feed human and fur kids. The pet food box is under the food bank
table outside the Panabaker sanctuary. If you have any questions please contact
[email protected]
Page 11
We come together in beloved community, guided by our Unitarian Universalist principles and sources
to grow in wisdom, welcome and deepen relationships, and act for a just and sustainable world.
March 2016
UpBeat News with Jane Perry
Contact Music Director Jane Perry here: [email protected]
Come to a concert! There is always a musical offering to look forward to at the Unitarian
Church of Calgary. Mark your calendars for the following events:
A Choral Bouquet. Friday, March 11 at 7:30pm in Panabaker Hall. UUphonia and ChorVida
act as musical hosts to guest ensembles Vocal Latitudes, the BarberEllas, and One Voice Chorus.
For the final massed choir number, there will be 100 singers onstage! Reception to follow.
Tickets: $20 regular, $15 senior/student, or pay what you can. Free admission for under-18.
Cabaret 2016: Music at the Old Town Hall! Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30 at 7:00pm both evenings, in
Panabaker Hall. UUphonia is already hard at work on the latest installment of its annual song-and-story night, this year with
a script by Brandis Purcell. With a live band, a cash bar and refreshment stand, and a chance to hear your UUphonia friends
perform their favourite solos in front of the best audience in show business, you don’t want to miss this! Tickets will go on
sale on the first Sunday in April: $20 regular, $15 senior/student, or pay what you can. Free admission for under-18.
New Interfaith Youth Group Launched
written by Sukhman.
Youth from the Living Spirit United Church and the Dashmesh Culture Centre, and
a youth member of the Unitarian church got together on Sunday, January. 31, 2016
at the Living Spirit United Church to participate in a Youth Interfaith event, a first
of many to come. Youth from the Jewish and Muslim faith communities were
unable to attend but plan on attending the next Interfaith Youth Group to be held at
the Sikh Temple on Sunday, Feb. 21st at 7 pm.
Youth leaders discussed the importance of growing up with a well-rounded
background that includes interaction with different kinds of people, from different faiths, cultures, and beliefs. This helps
youth understand each other better and become strong leaders that will actively and responsibly deal with today’s problems.
Jennifer Ferguson, Minister at the Living Spirit United Church, facilitated the program which included engaging ice breakers
and interactive discussions. The youth groups got together and discussed some of the following questions:
“What is the most precious thing about your faith and the reason you follow it?”
“Talk about when you have experienced discrimination or prejudice because of your faith.”
“What is a misconception that people have about your faith that you would like to explain or educate?”
“Something I discovered about faith that we all have in common is…”
However, the most meaningful and best part of the night was at the end. All of the youth and their leaders stood together in
a circle with their hands held in solidarity and meditated together in remembrance of God. The youth recited the Sikh Prayer
of Mool Mantar and the Christian Prayer called the Lord’s Prayer, and automatically felt the energy in the room uplift.
New friends were made, food was eaten, and laughter was heard all throughout the night. The youth were able to engage in
meaningful discussions but have tons of fun at the same time. This safe environment that was created allowed the youth
from different faiths, no faiths, and undecided faiths to come together and share their opinions on varied subjects in an open,
friendly, and non-judgemental atmosphere.
Overall, it will be hard to cap off another Youth Interfaith Night like this one!
The Quest
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www.unitarianscalgary.org
CYRE March 2016
On Jan. 31 the congregation dived into a Spirit Jam Sunday. We began the service
together in Panabaker Hall to sing and hear Rev. Carly tell us two stories of Resilience.
One was about two trees: the willow that bent with the wind and the oak that stood
firm…. until the worst storm ever. The willow remained standing and bending while the
oak broke. The other was a personal story of overcoming fear and swinging on a trapeze!
Great stories Carly!
We broke out into five groups to ‘embody’ resilience: Singing with Jane Perry;
Experiencing a TLC with Bev Webber; Theatre Games with Brian Dorscht; Outdoor play
with Carly Gaylor and a Lego Build-Off with Shannon Mang.
The picture is of the Lego group building “Resilience”.
Secret Buddies began on Feb. 7 and will run each Sunday until the Big
Reveal on March 13. There are a number of brand new adult and child
Buddies, along with some real veteran Buddies. Here is the list of
Famous UU’s who will communicating with one another:
Sophia Lyon Fahs; Maria Mitchell; Dorothea Dix; Charles Darwin; Bela
Bartok; Michael Servetus; Clara Barton; Charles Dickens; Alexander
Graham Bell and Fannie Farmer.
This year we have Yoseth Diaz acting as our mail delivery person. You
can see posters of our famous UU’s on the wall in Wickenden Hall in
the NW corner. That is where the adult mail slots are located and the
children’s mail slots are located in Room 1 this year. The slots only get
used for the items that our intrepid mail carrier cannot deliver on a
Sunday morning. Our beautiful Secret Buddies bulletin board is another
of Jamie Davison’s creations.
The OWL Grade 4-6 session will be wrapping up at the beginning of March and the session for children in KindergartenGrade 1 started on Feb. 24 and will run through until May. We’re still hoping that a Youth Grade 7-9 OWL weekend will
happen this Spring.
The final session of the MultiGen Choir sings on March 6. Thank you Jane Perry for sharing your gifts for bringing music
alive for kids of ALL AGES!
In March we’ll be introducing Household/Family Chalice Lighting where a household will light the Chalice at the beginning
of the service, then take a Chalice Bearers kit home and light the chalice everyday and hold this Beloved Community in
thought or prayer, returning the kit the following Sunday for the next household to take up. Please watch for your
household’s opportunity to be the Chalice Lighters/Bearers.
Our Next Spirit Jam is coming on Easter Sunday March 27!! Another MultiGenerational Worship time full of fun and full of
Spirit!
Many Blessings—Shannon Mang DRE
Page 13
We come together in beloved community, guided by our Unitarian Universalist principles and sources
to grow in wisdom, welcome and deepen relationships, and act for a just and sustainable world.
March 2016
March 2016 Kudos!
This month we recognize and thank many people who
generously volunteered recently:
Marie Paturel for taking on the challenge of organizing the
service auction, an important fundraiser for our church.
Remember, it’s postponed, not cancelled!
Corinna Nielson for her intense and timely work in applying
Hedda Zahner for all her work in the kitchen.
for the Northern Lights campaign.
Dr. Philip Jessop for an enlightening talk on chemistry for
Ottmar Hoch who said, "Let there be Light!" all over the
greener living, and Carl Svoboda for organizing the forum.
church! And then there was: he replaced light bulbs in the
The board and Rev. Carly for devoting 6 weekend hours to a
office, the nursery, the Wickenden landing and stairs.
planning meeting.
Dick Wilson for bringing the edge back to the paper
cutter. His work to sharpen up the blade meant UCC didn't Cellist Tom Mirhady and his colleagues Laurie Syer (violin)
and Jamie Syer (piano) for a fabulous Afternoon of Chamber
have to buy a new one... a surprisingly expensive item!
Music concert on February 7.
Bev Webber for holding down the fort when our office
The Music Committee, event captain Charlene Hoeppner,
administrator Martha Mantikoski works from
home. Congratulations to Bev on your first service as a Lay and all of the concert volunteers who helped in such a big
way behind the scenes on February 7. What a great team!
Chaplain. And a big thank you to Bev for organizing the
Second Sunday Suppers for the past 3 ½ years.
Jane Ebbern for stepping up to take the lead on Second
Sunday Suppers for the next few months.
Rebekah Mobley-Kasner for her willingness and patience
helping Martha learn the secrets of Publisher.
Second Sunday Supper
Potluck!
March 13th
For a change, and to give our great volunteers a break, we
are planning a pot luck for our Second Sunday Supper,
March 13th. Please sign up in Wickenden and indicate
whether you will be bringing a main course, salad or
dessert. We ask that each person bring their course in
sufficient quantity to serve about 5-6 people. Polish off
those recipe books and bring your specialty dish to share.
Or if you don't feel like cooking, buy a pie, or a pre-made
salad, chunk of cheese and baguette etc. Hope to see you
there!
Doors open 4pm, Dinner 5pm.
This is just a sampling of the many people who contribute in
numerous ways to our community. When you catch
someone in the act of kindness and service please share the
info by emailing [email protected] .
Caring, Cooking, Connection
March 17th
Our next CCC is planned for Thursday, March 17 – 4 to
7pm. We come together as a caring community in the
church kitchen to prepare nutritious home-cooked
meals. A sense of community is built among the cooks
while they cook, dine, package, freeze and share with
community members who would benefit from these meals
at no charge to them.
Please email Danielle ([email protected]) or
Bev ([email protected]) if you would like more
information or to attend.
Page 14
The Quest
www.unitarianscalgary.org
A UU weekend in Vancouver
If you’ve never been to a national conference of our church, don’t miss the chance to attend the Vancouver one on the
Victoria Day weekend, May 20-22. Spending a weekend with Unitarians from across Canada is an unforgettable experience.
This year’s conference is at the gorgeous University of B.C. campus, and accommodation in residences there will be as low
as $45 a night – at this low price you get your own room, but share a bathroom and common room with five other
attendees. There are also fancier rooms.
And conference organizers are hoping to find lots of Vancouver members who are willing to billet conference visitors - a
great way to keep costs down and connect with some other Unitarians.
Early bird registration is now open, with a $275 adult registration fee till March 31 ($300 after that). Subsidies are
available to assist you in attending the conference. Please apply sooner rather than later – early bird deadline ends
March 30th! Please allow a 3 week subsidy processing period. Subsidy details are available at http://cuc.ca/subsidies/ or
email [email protected] with questions.
The CUC annual meeting on Friday 20 May is part of the weekend, so consider being a delegate to this meeting for your
congregation.
Conference 2016 will focus on better connections among UUs, greater public awareness, and deepening spirituality –
on Bolder Ways of Being. Full details of this great event at: http://cuc.ca/conference-2016/
Jane Ebbern, board member, Canadian Unitarian Council
Spring is like a perhaps hand
spring is like a perhaps
(which comes carefully
Hand in a window
out of Nowhere) arranging
(carefully to
a window, into which people look(while
and fro moving New and
people stare
Old things, while
arranging and changing placing
people stare carefully
carefully there a strange
moving a perhaps
thing and a known thing here) and
fraction of flower here placing
an inch of air there) and
changing everything carefully
without breaking anything.
e.e. cummings
Page 15
Sunday
We come together in beloved community, guided by our Unitarian Universalist principles and sources
to grow in wisdom, welcome and deepen relationships, and act for a just and sustainable world.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
AM-W212:30 PM-B305:00 PM-BHorticultural Ther- Stewarship
Church Services
apy
06:00 PM-Pcommitt
11:00 AM-B-Staff BarberEllas
07:00 PM-P meeting
07:00 PM-P - CRSP UUPhonia re01:00 PM-P-Piano Rehearsal
hearsal
lessons
07:00 PM-W-Get
07:00 PM-P - Vo- LIving!
cal Lat. rehearsal
07:00 PM-WCouncil of Canadians
608:00 AM-P/W/K 709:00 AM-1811:00 AM-B-Staff 910:00 AM-W1005:30 PM-B-TLC
Worship Service Painting Lessons meeting
Needlecraft circle for facilitators
11:30 AM-B01:00 PM-P-Piano 01:00 PM-P-Piano 12:30 PM-B07:00 PM-P Ushers
lessons
lessons
Stewarship
UUPhonia re12:15 PM-W 06:00 PM-4-Board 01:45 PM-B06:00 PM-Phearsal
Canvass
Meeting
Membership com- BarberEllas
01:30 PM-4-OWL 07:00 PM-P - OVC mittee
07:00 PM-P - CRSP
for Elementary
Rehearsal
07:00 PM-P - Vo- Rehearsal
01:30 PM-1-OWL 07:00 PM-B-Green cal Lat. rehearsal 07:00 PM-B - RagElementary
Sanctuary
ing Grannies
07:30 PM-B/K07:00 PM-W-Get
Book Discussion
LIving!
07:15 PM-4 - AJC
1308:00 AM-P/W/ 1409:00 AM-11510:00 AM-W1612:30 PM-B1703:00 PM-W/KK Worship Service Painting Lessons Horticultural Ther- Stewarship
CCC
11:30 AM-B01:00 PM-P-Piano apy
06:00 PM-107:00 PM-P Ushers
lessons
11:00 AM-B-Staff BarberEllas
UUPhonia re12:00 PM-W/K - 07:00 PM-P - OVC meeting
07:00 PM-P - CRSP hearsal
2nd Sunday Sup- Rehearsal
01:00 PM-P-Piano Rehearsal
per
07:00 PM-1lessons
07:00 PM-W-Get
01:30 PM-4-OWL Arthritis support 07:00 PM-P - Vo- LIving!
for Elementary
group
cal Lat. rehearsal 07:00 PM-B-Social
Justice
07:00 PM-B-Social
Justice
2008:00 AM-P/W/ 2109:00 AM-12211:00 AM-B2310:00 AM-W2407:00 PM-P K Worship Service Painting Lessons Staff meeting
Needlecraft circle UUPhonia re11:30 AM-B01:00 PM-P-Piano 11:00 AM-4-TLC 12:30 PM-Bhearsal
Ushers
lessons
w/ Joan Riches
Stewarship
12:00 PM-P06:00 PM-4-Board 01:00 PM-P-Piano 06:00 PM-1-JMC
UUPhonia Xtra
Meeting
lessons
06:00 PM-Prehearsal
07:00 PM-P - OVC 06:30 PM-W-CoC: BarberEllas
01:30 PM-4-OWL Rehearsal
World Water Day 07:00 PM-P - CRSP
for Elementary
07:00 PM-P - Vo- Rehearsal
07:30 PM-B/Kcal Lat. rehearsal 07:00 PM-B - RagBook Discussion
ing Grannies
2708:00 AM-P/W/ 28
2910:00 AM-W3012:30 PM-B3107:00 PM-P K Worship Service
Horticultural Ther- Stewarship
UUPhonia re11:30 AM-Bapy
06:00 PM-Phearsal
Ushers
11:00 AM-B-Staff BarberEllas
01:30 PM-4-OWL
meeting
07:00 PM-P - CRSP
for Elementary
01:00 PM-P-Piano Rehearsal
02:00 PM-Wlessons
Sacred Web Sing07:00 PM-P - Voers
cal Lat. rehearsal
07:30 PM-B/KBook Discussion
110:00
March
Friday
PM-W/KMovies with
Meaning
405:00
March 2016
Saturday
AM-PBarberEllas
11:30 AM-W/KTHRR Guide
06:30 PM-W/KContra dance
510:00
2016
1105:00
PM-B/W/ 1211:30 AM-WK/P-Choral Bou- THRR Guide
quet
12:00 PM-K - Second Sunday prep
1805:00
PM-W/K - 1909:00 AM-P/W/
Movie Night G
K/B-Spiritual ReSanct
treat
01:00 PM-W/K
THRR Guide
06:00 PM-B/W/KCovenant of Gaia
2510:00
AM-4-TLC 2608:00 AM-W/Kw/ Joan Riches
Quilt Blitz
11:30 AM-P-THRR
Guide
The Quest
Page 16
How to Reach UCC Staff
www.unitarianscalgary.org
Publishing the Quest
Minister
Rev. Carly Gaylor
[email protected]
403-230-8938 (office)
289-828-4959 (cell)
The UCC Quest is published 11 times per
year by the Unitarian Church of Calgary.
Electronic copies are available at
www.unitarianscalgary.org/newsletter/.
Submissions of articles, photographs, and
event announcements are encouraged. Questions about the Quest, please email,
[email protected].
Student Minister
Danielle Webber
The Quest Deadline is the 15th of every
month except for July.
[email protected]
ENEWS
The ENEWS is normally published via email
once a week on Wednesday. Material for the
ENEWS must be submitted by Tuesday midnight. If you would like to the receive the
ENEWS, please email [email protected]
Director of Religious Exploration /
Youth Program Coordinator
Shannon Mang
[email protected]
403-230-4146
Booking Rooms
Music Director
Jane Perry [email protected]
As our Church gets busier it is important
that if rooms are needed they are booked in
advance. Space can be reserved either by
filling out the online booking form found
here http://unitarianscalgary.org/calendar/
#form or by contacting the
Church Administrator at 403-276-2436 or
Church Administrator
Martha Mantikoski
[email protected]
403-276-2436
Monday to Friday 9am to Noon
Lay Chaplains: Carl Svoboda and Beverly Webber
Our Lay Chaplains are trained to perform rites of passage, such as weddings, funerals/memorial services, child dedications,
etc. They are available to provide such services for a fee to the wider community. (Services for Unitarian Church of Calgary
members are provided by the minister.) Our lay chaplain can be contacted by calling the church at 403-276-2436 or via email,
[email protected].
The Caring Team
The Caring Team provides support to the members, friends, and families of the congregation. If life has you stressed because
of illness, hospitalization, moving, we can help. If you have something to be celebrated, such as a graduation, marriage or
new child, we are there with you. We are all part of the Caring Team! Need support, have a concern, or want to be of service?
Contact [email protected]
MONTHLY CO-OP GIFT CARD FUNDRAISER
Each month we will take Co-op Gift Card orders on the first Sunday. Bring
cash or a cheque to church unless we already have your post-dated cheques.
Cheques are payable to the Unitarian Church of Calgary. A table will be set up
in Wickenden Hall place your order there before or after the service. The
cards will be distributed following Sunday.
Please continue to support this valuable fund raiser for our church! Contact:
Ev Dewar [email protected] or
Sheila Ward [email protected]
Lynn Nugent [email protected]
To learn more about the Unitarian
Church of Calgary, use our QR Code.