Hi Everyone, It will be spring soon, hard as that is to believe. I want to give a heads-up, I am doing a preaching course this semester which will require me to tape two of my sermons, No worries about Zoom taping, it will only be the sermon which is completely confidential. The only snag is that I must use a biblical text, so I will be trying to swing Christianity in a Unitarian light. The professor was very kind to let me shape it to my context, but he did not know how to change the assignment to not be about a biblical text. So, it will be a challenge. Look for this on the 3rd week of the month and wish me luck. Otherwise, my studies are going well and Ihave am taking 3 courses this term. One more in the summer and 2 more in the fall and I will have completed the school part of my journey
Things are going well at the UFL. There may be new rental opportunities, coming down the pipe and some ideas from PFLAGG for coordination. These are all still in “talks”
We have had robust worship services and due to a couple of changes suggested by Marlene and made a reality by Rahul, and with a new camera purchased we will hopefully have better views for those attending on Zoom. Do not forget about next week’s potluck and Leap Year Celebration. It is great to have potluck Sundays back, isn’t it? For those of you that are new to the UFL this was a favorite for many of us before the pandemic.
We had several new members join last Sunday which was wonderful. Please, if you see someone you don’t know reach out a friendly hand and say hello .
Due to a resignation from the Argyle Basic Needs committee, I have been asked to chair or co-chair the meetings. Someone else has taken on all the administrative tasks, so the work will only involve a meeting every 2 months. This should keep us in the loop for the community we serve. Jerrod attended last month and hopes to continue attending regularly which will be super.
As always please contact me with any ideas or concerns at my email lorisotte@gmail.com or phone me at 519-859-1640
Lori Otte Director of Congregational Life
What’s in store for your spring summer and fall of 2024? Unicamp of Ontario has a wealth of programming for you to look forward to this year.
Whether you are looking for a summer camp for your children and youth, a special week away at family camp, an opportunity to engage in stimulating and creative adult programming (from yoga to art, writing, drama, dance, nature hikes, music workshops, drumming and more), or just some time for quiet R & R, Unicamp has it all.
The 2024 brochure is now available and bookings are open to register for children’s camp and youth programming. To check out and register for the multitude of offerings this season and make your spring, summer and fall plans, visit our new registration portal on Retreat Guru!
Unicamp of Ontario, now celebrating its 55th year, is a Unitarian Universalist camp committed to providing a safe and welcoming seasonal camp and spiritual retreat to a diverse community serving all, regardless of fatih.
Unicamp is located in Dufferin County, just north of Shelburne, Ontario, within the UNESCO Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve. It boasts 50 beautiful, peaceful acres of meadows, forests, streams, caves and two beaches on a spring-fed 2.5 acre pond. It’s a magical place to relax and explore, meet new people, and reconnect with self, community and nature.
Stay up-to-date on Unicamp’s happenings by signing up for the monthly newsletter on the Unicamp website
Make your plans for the coming season!
Worship Leader: Alison Konrad
The nature of our existence requires us to build a capability of letting go – of anything we have and ultimately, everything in our lives. How can we build that capability and what do we gain by letting go of even the things that give us joy?This will be a Short Reflection, Table Discussion during Potluck Brunch
Service Leader: Laura-Beth Falter
Welcome our special guest speaker Toolika Rastogi. Toolika leads the Humane Canada research program, including the national shelter statistics program and various animal welfare research projects.
Worship Leader: Lori Turner Otte
Philippians 3:13 ...."But, one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is left ahead" This service will be taped on zoom - only the reflection - for my preaching course. Thanks for supporting me on the path to ordination
Worship Leader: Bill Ratcliffe
What to let go and what to hold on to for a balanced UU faith is often difficult. Assumptions from the trauma of a previous faith may complicate this decision. How can our UU faith help us hold on to that which is worthy?
Questions:
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.
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, March 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. The normal attendance is 6-8 men. A warm welcome awaits you. Tom Orchard, <;tomjoyorchard@gmail.com>, 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 February book was 'Hillbilly Elegy,' by JD Vance. The February meeting was held via Zoom on Tuesday, February 20th from 2-4 pm. We welcomed Elizabeth to our meeting. Thanks Elizabeth for joining us and your thoughtful contributions. We had a lively discussion with varying aspects of the book and author covered by all those who were able to attend.
Our March book will be 'The Bear' by Andrew Krivak. Our March book club meeting will be on Tuesday Mar. 19th from 2-4 pm. 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 can be found in the weekly ufl emails)
