Worship Leader: Bob Harrington
Our theme for January is Transformation. I would like to start the year with something different, - a YouTube video. It is titled INNER WORLDS, OUTER WORLDS.
It is a beautiful video that will help us understand the nature of consciousness and how itcomes to manifest in and through us. If we can understand it even a little bit it will initiate life-enhancing transformations in our lives
Worship Leader: Brian Keith
We will learn about the City's efforts to iden- tify and cancel racism and discuss efforts that each of us can make to identify harmful atti- tudes and promote full equality. There are more kinds of racism than just skin colour. Be prepared to examine your prejudices (they may be more common than we'd care to acknowledge) and unearned privileges. No penalties will be imposed, but you'll come away with an opened mind and greater appre- ciation for the people who make up our won- derful world.
Pianist: Melanie Cancade Zoom
Hostess: Lori Turner-Otte
Worship Leader: Lori Otte
Service Leader: Alison Konrad
Worship Leaders: Alex Kapitan/Teo Drake
Gender-based oppression is a continuing reality of our world, so it shouldn't be a sur- prise that sexism and transphobia get in the way of our ability to live into our potential in UU congregations. In this service guest speakers Alex Kapitan and Teo Drake will help us consider how gender roles, assump- tions, and expectations hurt us all, and how we can dismantle the barriers within our- selves and our congregation that prevent us from creating a truly inclusive space for people of all genders
In this service, we will begin by choosing images that reflect our individual thoughts and feelings about spiritual transformation. Then we will consider what psychologists have learned about this deeply complex and personal phenomenon
Worship Leader: Bill Ratcliffe
The fragile spirit of generosity is founded on gratitude and results in joy. Gratitude, generosity and joy are all interconnected and based on a perspective of abundance. Being generous is both intransitive and transitive. There is the intransitive spirit of being generous, which just is. There is no object or conditions for the generosity. Then, there is transitive generosity which has a goal or goals, to which it is directed. Reflect on both the intransitive and transitive aspects of generosity.
The Gratitude: Generosity: Joy dialogue questions/comments are:
1. How do you maintain a perspective of abundance during these difficult times?
2. How do you determine which congregations, organizations and charities receive your volunteer and financial generosity?
3. What can our Unitarian Universalist faith community do to foster a perspective of abundance?
Worship Leader: Bob Harrington
Generosity is an expression of a person’s well-being. It is the natural way we live when we feel in harmony with everyone. To restore ourselves to perfect health is a first step towards building a healthy, prosperous and generous society.
This will be the focus of my talk on Feb. 12. Come one, come all.
Service Leader: Lori Turner Otte
Service Leader: Lori Turner Otte
Jane Dill, an end of life doula, will share the nature of her unique work. Companionship and non - medical assistance to those who are dying.
Worship Leader: Alison Konrad
March 8 is International Women’s Day, but still, in March, 2022, there were more Canadian CEOs named Michael (7) and Mark (6) than female CEOs (5). Women now hold 26% of board seats among all TSX-listed companies, a number that has slowly increased over the years. Finance scholars have generated over 100 rigorous longitudinal studies examining what happens when boards become gender-diverse, as well as a dozen studies of the impact of race/ethnic diversity on boards. Findings are fascinating and suggest new opportunities for enhancing Canadian innovation, ecological responsibility, and employee well-being.
Worship Leader: Laura-Beth Falter
In this service, we will renew our spiritual vows while celebrating National Plant a Flower Day.
Worship Leader: Lori Otte
Asking some difficult questions of ourselves in an effort to redefine our lives. I will be using the book by Rebekah Lyons called “Rhythm of Renewal”
Worship Leaders: Judith Warren and Bill Ratcliffe
As Unitarian Universalists we are all called to be leaders. Every year we elect a Board of Trustees to balance carrying out our Mission with the everyday nuts and bolts of running a Congregation. Like other Congregational roles, Board membership is grounded in the same UU values and anchored by the Covenant of Right Relations.
Dialoguing Questions:
1. Is leadership affected by the relationship between the leader and the followers?
2. How has having been a leader changed you?
3. Have you been changed by a leader? How?
4. What propels people out of their comfort zone and into leadership?
Worship Leader:Judith Warren.
Guest speaker: Rebecca Launchbury joins us. She is a Conservation Lands Manager with Thames Talbot Land Trust.
Worship Leader: Bob Harrington
The Roman mind could not tolerate the beauty of the early Christian beliefs and after Emperor Constantine became a Christian Rome’s influence has been to stifle the beauty, the magic and the love that were in the lives of the early Christians.
Can we throw off the influence of the Roman church and rediscover the magic and beauty that were recognized in the ‘possibilities’ of our human nature? The possibilities that can transform our world.
Worship Leader: Lori Otte
Eco-spirituality is the connection between humans and the environment. Let’s look at how to access it and why it’s important.
Worship Leader: Alison Konrad.
Special Guests Dan and Mary Lou Smoke.
The UFL Book Club has been around for 35 or 36 years, half of the UFL’s existence. Our book for April is ‘Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times’ by Azar Nafisi. The April date is Tuesday, April 18 at 2 p.m. over zoom. If you are interested in joining our book club please contact Alice Wehlau, the coordinator of the book club. Alice’s contact information is below. We hope to hear from you
Worship Leader: Laura-Beth Falter
The CUC dismantling racism study group, recommended including education on unconscious bias in congregations as one of many strategies to promote racial justice in our communities. We will examine the difference between explicit and implicit bias and discuss ways of avoiding implicit bias within ourselves and our institutions.
Worship Leader: Bill Ratcliffe
Speaking truth to power can be complicated and at the same time simple. Speaking truth to power has become more complicated as individuals and corporations blatantly lie to raise money either through advertisements or fundraising and to provoke violence.
Still an individual can simply speak truth to power. When someone uses the word woke as a universal pejorative, without being able to define it, say "ouch". State that one positive meaning of universal is the "oneness of humanity".
Go light on assumptions. Reflect on a source of information and then confirm, confirm, confirm. Become accustomed to paradox and uncertainty. Dare to be Unitarian Universalist.
Questions:
Meet us at our physical location at 557 Clarke Road in London Ontario.
Connect via zoom
Meeting ID: 856 6457 9696
Passcode: 752712
Worship Leader: Lori Turner-Otte
How can we know what is real?
Service Leader: Lori Turner-Otte
Andy Gough will discuss his diagnosis of PTSD and his companion dog Riggs. He started a non-profit called Veterans and Everyday Heroes, to raise money to place service dogs with veterans and first responders. (Trigger Warning. The dog will be at the service so if you have fears please zoom.)
The UFL Book Club has been around for 35 or 36 years, half of the UFL’s existence. Our book for April is ‘Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times’ by Azar Nafisi. The April date is Tuesday, April 18 at 2 p.m. over zoom. If you are interested in joining our book club please contact Alice Wehlau, the coordinator of the book club. Alice’s contact information is below. We hope to hear from you
The service on June 4th is in collaboration with the Unitarian Fellowship of Sarnia and Port Huron.
Sure, religion and poetry are nice and all, but what are they for? And what might one have to do with the other? Our speaker, The Rev. Dr. Lynn Ungar, is both a UU minister and a poet.
Note: The service will begin at 11 o'clock instead of 10:45.
There will be a different zoom link which will be posted when available.
Worship Leader: Lori Turner-Otte
we will be introducing the new members to the congregation and celebrating their joining
Worship Leader: Bob Harrington
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
And it will surprise you what we all have done
Are you looking to have some family fun, connect with the community and eat some delicious rhubarb treats? Come to our Rhubarb-Fest. There will be a Rhubarb Cafe, bake sale, book sale, white elephant sale and vendors!
Rhubarb-fest will be at the UFL Meeting House at 557 Clarke Road. There will be lots of parking available and the hall is accessible by bus!
We hope to see you there!
We meet on the third Monday of the month. A reservation is made each month, so please email Tom Orchardtomjoyorchard@gmail.com if you plan to attend.Contact Tom or Bill Ratcliffe wratcliffe@sympatico.ca if you have any questions.Hope to see you at the next lunch.
This Month Will be at Edgar & Joe’s, Goodwill on Horton Street
The UFL Book Club has been around for 35 or 36 years, half of the UFL’s existence. Our book for April is ‘Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times’ by Azar Nafisi. The April date is Tuesday, April 18 at 2 p.m. over zoom. If you are interested in joining our book club please contact Alice Wehlau, the coordinator of the book club. Alice’s contact information is below. We hope to hear from you
In this evensong service, we’ll laugh together and reflect on the role of humor in spiritual life.
Worship Leader: Judith Warren
We meet on the third Monday of the month. A reservation is made each month, so please email Tom Orchardtomjoyorchard@gmail.com if you plan to attend.Contact Tom or Bill Ratcliffe wratcliffe@sympatico.ca if you have any questions.Hope to see you at the next lunch.
This Month Will be at Edgar & Joe’s, Goodwill on Horton Street
Worship Leader: Lorraine Thomson
How Using Creativity, Intentionality and One Stroke at a Time Can Help Us Along Our Way.
A Unitarian Universalist Congregation is clearly a positive hybrid faith community. Individual UU faiths are also positive hybrid faiths. A positive hybrid faith is predisposed to pluralism and an evolving faith. The importance of a positive hybrid faith and one of the more pivotal faiths in those hybrids, will be addressed in this Reflection.
Worship Leader: Lori Turner-Otte
Worship Leader: Lori Otte
Worship Leader: Laura Beth
Join the UFL to help us celebrate our 70th anniversary. Guest speakers will highlight the UFL then and now. The Caring Team will present updated volumes of the memorial books. Our short service will be followed by a potluck lunch and a garden dedication.
Worship Leader: Bob Harrington
Each of us, according to the philosophy of the eastern mystics, is an embodiment of intense bliss energy but the strings of thought that dangle from that inner reality have been entangled in knots to such an extent that we have lost sight of it. Every now and then we manage to untangle one or two knots and have experienced a bliss which gives direction and purpose to our lives.
The practice of hospitality helps us to renew our outlook on life and entertain unfamiliar ideas and concepts that can help us untangle a few more knots.
Julie Andrew’s song may help us with this; you know the song about a deer, a female deer and a drop of golden sun
Worship Leader: Rev. Linda Thompson
The Unitarian Fellowship of London is a unique community, a local expression of Unitarian Universalism. You know and love this community. But, what, at is most essential is it, or any other congregation?
Please plan to stay after the service for a congregational meeting. This townhall will be a chance for you to express what you feel the congregation needs from it's space.
A warm welcome is extended to men within our Congregation who would like to join other Unitarian Universalist men for food and conversation on Monday, September 18 at 1:00 pm., at the Family Circle Restaurant, at 147 Wellington St. London.
The UU Men's Lunch Group meets monthly for lunch, on the third Monday. We have been trying different restaurants over the last year or so. We are returning to the Family Circle Restaurant until a decision can be made on the regular site, as well as, the day of the month and time of the day. Try to make this lunch so that as many as possible will be a part of this decision.
As a reservation is made for each lunch, please email Tom Orchard. <tomjoyorchard@gmail.com>, if you plan to attend. Tom Orchard emails members of the group the week before the monthly lunch, to determine who will be attending. You may contact Tom Orchard or Bill Ratcliffe, wratcliffe@sympatico.ca, if you have any questions. Hope to see you at the next lunch.
Worship Leader, Laura-Beth Falter
Harvest season is a time of abundance. In this service, we’ll explore the benefits of an abundance mindset for ourselves and our communities. What do you have in abundance? How can you share it to benefit others? How have others shared their abundance with you?
If you are participating on Zoom, bring a small handful of soil from a place that is meaningful to you.
Worship Leader: Suzanah Sarafin
Service Leader: Bill Ratcliffe
Betterup.com says, "failure is defined as a lack of success or inability to meet an expectation. Too often we tie it our sense of self worth, self esteem, and self acceptance." What if you could look at failure in a whole new way that frees you from the expectation and fear to live more fully?
Presenters: Rev Debra Faulk & Rev Danielle Webber
In these liminal times how does our Unitarian Universalist faith sustain us? So much loss and change has diminished our feelings of wellbeing and connection while heightening the sense of scarcity and amplifying anxiety. What commonly held values can we call on to inform our responses, motivate actions and provide some ease? Could generosity be a response that expands to reciprocity?
Worship Leader: Alison Konrad
I’ll be sharing is the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Report, and the goal of that report is identifying solutions to climate change. To some extent the report is optimistic, which is why I connect it to abundance. Spoiler alert: they don’t have a quick answer, however, they begin with over 1200 answers and narrow them down to a set of actionable items that are both highly effective and feasible
Worship Leader: Rev. Fred Wooden
To call these 'challenging times' is to risk cliche. Setting aside politics and climate change and the perverse persistence of racism, if these can ever be set aside, liberal religion is facing challenging times of its own. Is there any wisdom out there about how to do that? Fred Wooden is retired UU clergy, having served six churches over 42 years. While none of them were north of the border, he has Canadian colleagues, has preached in Canadian congregations, and knows the words of both "O Canada" and "The Mapleleaf Forever
Worship Leader, Laura-Beth Falter
Harvest season is a time of abundance. In this service, we’ll explore the benefits of an abundance mindset for ourselves and our communities. What do you have in abundance? How can you share it to benefit others? How have others shared their abundance with you?
If you are participating on Zoom, bring a small handful of soil from a place that is meaningful to you.
Worship Leader: Suzanah Sarafin
Service Leader: Bill Ratcliffe
Betterup.com says, "failure is defined as a lack of success or inability to meet an expectation. Too often we tie it our sense of self worth, self esteem, and self acceptance." What if you could look at failure in a whole new way that frees you from the expectation and fear to live more fully?
Presenters: Rev Debra Faulk & Rev Danielle Webber
In these liminal times how does our Unitarian Universalist faith sustain us? So much loss and change has diminished our feelings of wellbeing and connection while heightening the sense of scarcity and amplifying anxiety. What commonly held values can we call on to inform our responses, motivate actions and provide some ease? Could generosity be a response that expands to reciprocity?
Worship Leader: Alison Konrad
I’ll be sharing is the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Report, and the goal of that report is identifying solutions to climate change. To some extent the report is optimistic, which is why I connect it to abundance. Spoiler alert: they don’t have a quick answer, however, they begin with over 1200 answers and narrow them down to a set of actionable items that are both highly effective and feasible
Worship Leader: Rev. Fred Wooden
To call these 'challenging times' is to risk cliche. Setting aside politics and climate change and the perverse persistence of racism, if these can ever be set aside, liberal religion is facing challenging times of its own. Is there any wisdom out there about how to do that? Fred Wooden is retired UU clergy, having served six churches over 42 years. While none of them were north of the border, he has Canadian colleagues, has preached in Canadian congregations, and knows the words of both "O Canada" and "The Mapleleaf Forever
Worship Leader, Bill Ratcliffe
Justice is doing what is right. Determining what is right relies on one's conscience. A justice seeking conscience relies on an open, positive, loving mind, empathy and good accurate information.
Questions for Dialogue
Worship Leader: Bob Harrington
My reflection on Nov 12 on Justice will be based on the Hindu concept of karma and based on the well known Gayatri mantra. It is mantra of praise to the spiritual Sun that enlightens each person’s consciousness. I hope to show how the concept of justice works to expand our awareness and free our subconscious from annoying and depressing knots
Worship Leader: Lori Turner Otte
Worship Leader: Rev. Brian Kiely
In this polarized world… Can we just talk?
A Zoom presentation by Elizabeth Van Rij
Since August 2021, Elizabeth Van Rij has recovered more than 200 missing markers and taken over 36,000 photographs in Southwestern Ontario cemeteries.
Join us online on All Souls Night (Nov 2, 2023)as she presents some of her most memorable finds. You will learn what inspired her to start this unusual hobby and why it has evolved into a vocation. Zoom link to follow.
Join other UU 18 to 35 year-olds on Zoom for sharing of joys and sorrows, deeper check-ins, prayerful reflections, and an opportunity to process the events of our lives with a spiritually grounded community. Each month we are joined by a member of the Young Adult Pastoral Care Team.
These monthly gatherings have become highly valued touchstones in the lives of many young adults. While so much in our lives is unknown and unknowable, we can find comfort in familiar rituals and faces. By sharing our joys, our concerns, our sorrows and our gratitudes, we know ourselves to be held in a loving community. Exploring themes and spiritual practices helps us each remember our own creativity and resilience. We are all in this together, a part of a larger story.
These are drop-in gatherings, so you don’t need to sign up in advance and there is no fee. See event details for zoom link.
IT’S BACK! Yes folks the SERVICES AUCTION is back. We are dusting off the cobwebs hovering over the UNI-BUCKS, and creating and evening of fun, food and frolic. This year’s major fundraiser and community-building event will engage your imagination, ignite your passion for fun, satisfy your hunger, offer time to enjoy the company of your friends and provide you with an opportunity to generously support the Unitarian Fellowship of London.
Your free-will donation can be made by cheque or cash at the door on November 18th. Hmmm, the questions are: What SERVICE will you contribute to the auction and what items will you BID your $500 Uni-bucks to win? Auction Service forms will be available as of Sunday, October 16 th and must be submitted by November 5th.
This will be an in-person event being held at UFL. If you usually attend services by Zoom a ride can be arranged if you would like to attend in person. This year’s theme is Country Western so dig out your Boot Scootin’ attire and join in on this social evening of fellowship. Tune in for more information over the coming weeks.
SADDLE-UP SOIREE
Saturday, November 18th , 2023.
5:30 – 9:00 PM
This event is brought to you by the UFL Board of Executives, the Social Committee and the many volunteers who contribute their time, talent and gifts.
A warm welcome is extended to men within our Congregation who would like to join other Unitarian Universalist men for food and conversation on Monday, November 20 at 1:00 pm., at the Family Circle Restaurant, at 147 Wellington St. London.
The UU Men's Lunch Group meets monthly for lunch, on the third Monday. We have been trying different restaurants over the last year or so. We are returning to the Family Circle Restaurant until a decision can be made on the regular site, as well as, the day of the month and time of the day. Try to make this lunch so that as many as possible will be a part of this decision.
As a reservation is made for each lunch, please email Tom Orchard, <tomjoyorchard@gmail.com>. if you plan to attend. Tom Orchard emails members of the group the week before the monthly lunch, to determine who will be attending. You may contact Tom Orchard or Bill Ratcliffe, wratcliffe@sympatico.ca, if you have any questions. Hope to see you at the next lunch.
Worship Leader: Laura-Beth Falter
This service will feature three reflections by Casey Stainsby, CUC Youth and Young Adult Program Manager, a meditative piece by Anna Issacs, Director of Family Programs at the First Unitarian Church of Victoria, and Rev. Peter Boullata, from the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough.
Worship Leader: Mark Konrad
A brief description of human rights on this, the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Service Leader: Lori Otte
Hymn Singing to follow the service
Service Leader: Lori Otte
Lori Otte will lead an evensong service
Join other UU 18 to 35 year-olds on Zoom for sharing of joys and sorrows, deeper check-ins, prayerful reflections, and an opportunity to process the events of our lives with a spiritually grounded community. Each month we are joined by a member of the Young Adult Pastoral Care Team.
These monthly gatherings have become highly valued touchstones in the lives of many young adults. While so much in our lives is unknown and unknowable, we can find comfort in familiar rituals and faces. By sharing our joys, our concerns, our sorrows and our gratitudes, we know ourselves to be held in a loving community. Exploring themes and spiritual practices helps us each remember our own creativity and resilience. We are all in this together, a part of a larger story.
These are drop-in gatherings, so you don’t need to sign up in advance and there is no fee. See event details for zoom link.
Join the kids to decorate the tree and prepare for Christmas.
Bring your family! Bring your friends!
Bring some finger food to Share!
This is an all ages event and everyone is welcome. Join us for:
A warm welcome is extended to men within our Congregation who would like to join other Unitarian Universalist men for food and conversation on Monday, December 11 at 1:00 pm., at the Family Circle Restaurant, at 147 Wellington St. London. Note change in date because of upcoming Holiday Season. Please email Tom Orchard, <tomjoyorchard@gmail.com>, if you plan to attend.
Joyce Orchard emails members of the group the week before the monthly lunch, to determine who will be attending. You may contact Tom Orchard or Bill Ratcliffe, wratcliffe@sympatico.ca, if you have any questions. Hope to see you at the next lunch.
The UFL book club has been around for 36 or 37 years, just slightly more than half of the ULF's existence. We meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 2 pm. Our December meeting is on Tuesday December 19th from 2 - 4 pm. We will meet via Zoom. Marlene will send out a Zoom link via email for the meeting. The book we are reading is ‘Looking for Jane’ by Heather Marshall. If you are interested in joining our book club please contact me, Alice Wehlau, the coordinator of the book club. I hope to hear from you. Alice's contact info is in the weekly email!
Join us on zoom as we prepare for the Winter Solstice with a ritual led by Elizabeth Van Rij.
This ritual will incorporate a variety of spiritual traditions that celebrate this time of increasing light.
No experience is necessary, just a desire to meditate and reflect. There will be an optional post-ritual social time. (Elizabeth was a co-leader of a woman’s earth-based spirituality group at Grand River Unitarian Congregation in Kitchener, leading many Wheel of the Year Celebrations.)
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82640427833?pwd=SGQwRTRuNGV2NHFCVHYxdVNKMzNiZz09"
Meeting ID: 826 4042 7833
Passcode: 898135
