Building Courage
Worship Leader: Alison Konrad
The first worship service in June will introduce the theme of courage with a definition, an overview of examples, and a discussion of how to build courage into our daily lives.
The Chalice – June 2025
Welcome to Summer
We have had a successful few months….many new members joined after we had an orientation meeting. Numbers on Sunday continue to be over 50 people.
The children’s program welcomed two new children last week and we are having an RE celebration in June. Next year we will have age appropriate classrooms as our little ones are growing up
We had a ufl barbecue in my backyard to celebrate Raghuls birthday. What a joy! We hope to have more get togethers this summer. All are invited.
It looks like I may make it through my last seminary class in biblical Greek. I hope to graduate with an MDiv soon.
Summer is busy with Pride, Canada Day etc…. please volunteer to help out if you can.
My internship continues to go well with Linda Thomson as my supervisor. I will be facilitating a book club online for a group using Rabbi Brian’s Unorthodox gospel which he published recently.
Worship Weavers is meeting soon to plan summer evensong services over the summer.
As always please call with any questions or concerns at 519 859 1640 or email at lorisotte@gmail.com.
From your Board President
“The fear of being different prevents most people from seeking new ways to solve their problems.” Robert Kiyosaki.
I was always nervous about being different; would I be accepted, would my friends leave, would I make enemies? It was a deep-seated issue for me. Little did I know there were thousands, nay millions, who felt the same. However, in the small town I grew up in, the chasm between fear and acceptance was wide and deep.
It takes immense courage to overcome the fear of being different. The anxiety of not being accepted, the worry of losing friends, and the fear of making enemies can be overwhelming.
However, it is heartening to know that we come to realize we are not alone in feeling this way. Millions of people struggle with the same fears and insecurities. And it is often the first step toward self-acceptance and empowerment.
How has your journey toward self-acceptance been? What steps have you taken to overcome your fears, and what advice would you give others who may be struggling with similar issues?
Happy springtime and many blessings.
Jerrod Whitman, President, Board of Directors
2025 UU Pride Celebrations
The Pride Celebrations Committee (PCC), Jeff Dixon, Ann Klinck, Bill Ratcliffe and Lori Turner-Otte have begun to plan the 2025 UU Pride Celebrations for the week of July 13-20. Plan to share the joy with fellow Unitarian Universalists and the general public, some of whom are UU, but do not know it yet. Reflect on the following quotes for a reason to participate in UU Pride Celebrations.
“Equality is the soul of liberty. There is, in fact not liberty without it.”(Frances Wright)
“The devastating repercussions of hate-filled language manifest in very real ways for today’s LGBTQ youth” (Cheyenne Jackson)
“We are gay and straight together, And we are singing, singing for our lives. We are gay and straight together, And we are singing, singing for our lives.”(from hymn #170, We are a Gentle Angry People by Holly Near, in Singing the Living Tradition hymnal)
“When you reduce life to black and white, you never see rainbows.” (Anonymous)
This year there will be two hybrid Pride Worship Services. There will be a fulsome joint Pride Worship Service on Sunday, July 13 with Christa Duvall of PFLAG and Elliot Duvall of Trans*London followed by a briefer Pride Service on Sunday, July 20, at a different time of 10:00 am. The early start time is to allow Pride Parade walkers to gather for the 12:00 pm Parade start. Note that there will be a PFLAG/Trans*London bbq following the joint July 13 Pride Worship Service. UUs are welcome. The traditional UU Pride booth at the Annual 3 Day Outdoor Festival returns to Victoria Park, Friday, July 18 – Sunday, July 20. Informational materials. children's crafts and candy handouts will be features of this year’s UU Pride booth. Be a part of this major outreach activity for our Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Experience the joy of connecting with other LGBTQ+ supporters. Contact Bill Ratcliffe, wjratcliffe68@gmail.com, tel. 519-471-7500 about volunteering or sign up for a shift in the booth, on the signup sheet on Sundays, starting mid June.
Sunday, July 20 from 12:00 pm., the Pride Parade will start at the Western Fair District. Plan to be a part of this long standing tradition for our Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Catch the Pride spirit. Contact Bill Ratcliffe, wjratcliffe68@gmail.com, tel. 519-471-7500 about marching or sign up as a Pride Parade walker on the signup sheet on Sundays, starting mid June. Note that last year’s marshalling confusion has resulted in changes this year. Cars will be left at designated spots with walkers being driven to the start of the Parade and returned to their cars, in groups. In closing, Joy is in the details. The biggest takeaway from exploring Pride is to allow people to self-identity without assuming that you know. Let’s continue to strive for this aspiration. As Maya Angelou suggests, “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
Bill Ratcliffe,
Chair, Pride Celebrations Committee
Generous Spirit Awards
The UFL Generous Spirit Awards recognizes the time, energy and efforts of UFL volunteers who exemplify the spirit of generosity in our Fellowship. If you would like to nominate a UFL volunteer, team or committee for this recognition, please fill out a form at the UFL on Sunday. Alternatively, you can make a nomination by filling out the form online here
Sunday Services
June 2025
Courage in the World’s Religions
Worship Leader: Lori Turner
Courage in the World's Religions. How do different faith communities approach the concept of courage? How can we be more courageous in the face of the conflicts we see all around us.
Human Nature
Worship Leader: Bob Harrington
Human nature can be divided into three aspects, that is, physical, mental and spiritual. The physical nature is strongly believed in and well understood; the mental nature including the emotional often causes us problems but the spiritual nature is not well understood or emphasized as it should be. Understanding the spiritual aspect of out nature would would help to bring healing to the physical and strengthen the mental and emotional natures.
The spiritual aspect could be understood as the most subtle part of our minds and underlies our awareness with a quiet influence. It connects the whole self to the witness within. The witness is the observer of the thoughts and actions. It is the one we refer to when we say this is my body; it is the inferred owner. But we cannot define the witness as each effort we make causes it to retreat from our understanding, so we usually describe it as infinite and beyond thought. Religious traditions often apply the word God to it but it is not God but our true self.
In my talk on June 15 I will expand on these ideas.
A Tale of Two Stories
Worship Leader: Colin Read, Lay Chaplain
The Renaissance and industrial revolution have resulted in our technologically advanced culture with its promise of unprecedented luxury and comforts for all. The underlying mythology of our time is based on a model of individualism, and a philosophy that breaks complex systems into its small components and works with these isolated bits to maximize efficiency. This Story of Separation has brought us great material comforts, but it is also the basis of the disconnect and discomfort that has resulted in the large number of environmental and social concerns that dominate today. Drawing on the writings of Charles Eisenstein and Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Buddhist teachings, Colin introduces and explores the idea that we need a new story – a “new and ancient story” - the story of Interbeing. This is a story that provides an alternative way of thinking about the world and our place in it– a story that charts a path to address the very core of the major issues of our times – a path that can take us to that more “beautiful world our hearts know is possible”.
Evensong – Courage and Social Justice
Worship Leader: Brian Keith About our services Our Sunday Service meets year-round at 10:45am and is central to our religious life and community. We draw on a variety of sources and traditions, and address themes ranging from social concerns to spiritual growth. Our services have many common elements including music and congregational singing, spoken and […]
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Upcoming Events
Awaits: A Farewell Celebration for Rev. Linda Thomson
(2 hours) Location: In Person in Toronto and Streamed (if you’re coming in person, please plan to arrive about 4:00 pm) It is with a mix of great joy and sadness that we share with you Rev. Linda Thomson’s plans to leave the Canadian Unitarian Council in June 2025. After 23 years of dedication and […]
Soup Siblings’ Luncheon
Join us on the second Monday of the month at Edgar and Joe’s at the Goodwill downtown at 255 Horton St. Don't worry about arriving late; just come in and join our table.(Note: Goodwill offers senior discounts in their store this day.)
Annual Congregational Meeting
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025 beginning at 10:00 a.m. This will be a hybrid meeting, both in-person at the UFL church, 557 Clarke Road, and via zoom. The zoom link for this meeting will be emailed closer to the date. Registration will begin at 9:45 a.m. Only Members […]
Dismantling Barriers: Talking About Joy as Resistance
In furtherance of its 8th principle, the Canadian Unitarian Council is offering two national webinars of interest to congregants interested in Dismantling Barriers to Full Inclusion – one on Solidarity (May 29), the other on Joy as Resistance (June 26). The 8th principle can be found here: https://cuc.ca/unitarian-universalism/principles-sources/ Join us on June 26th, 2025 from […]
Ufl Movie Night 🍿
This month’s movie will be Chappie (2015), the story of a police droid, Chappie, who becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself. It is rated Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity.
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